يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُخَفِّفَ عَنكُمْ ۚ وَخُلِقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ ضَعِيفًا 28
Translations
And Allāh wants to lighten for you [your difficulties]; and mankind was created weak.
Transliteration
Yurid allahu an yukhaffifa ankum wa khuliq al-insanu da'ifah
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah intends to ease the burden upon you in His legislation and commandments, for mankind was created inherently weak in body, mind, and spirit. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that this ayah serves as a divine reassurance that the Shariah is designed with human capacity and limitation in mind, reflecting Allah's mercy (rahmah) in legislation. The weakness mentioned encompasses physical frailty, susceptibility to temptation, and limited knowledge—all factors that Allah considers in revealing His laws.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the context of Surah An-Nisa's discussion of marital and family matters, particularly regarding financial obligations and inheritance. It provides theological justification for the various concessions and lighter rulings granted in Islamic law, emphasizing that the divine legislation is calibrated to human capability rather than placing unbearable burdens upon the believers.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The religion is easy, and no one makes the religion difficult except it will overwhelm him' (Sahih Bukhari 39). Additionally, 'Allah loves that His concessions (rukhsah) are taken just as He loves that His obligatory duties are performed' (Musnad Ahmad and others).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Islamic law is fundamentally a mercy suited to human capacity, encouraging us to recognize Allah's compassion in His commandments and to approach our religious obligations with confidence rather than despair. It also reminds us to be merciful to ourselves and others, acknowledging human limitations while striving for spiritual growth.
Related Ayahs
وَقَوْلِهِمْ إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا ٱلْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَـٰكِن شُبِّهَ لَهُمْ ۚ وَإِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ لَفِى شَكٍّ مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا لَهُم بِهِۦ مِنْ عِلْمٍ إِلَّا ٱتِّبَاعَ ٱلظَّنِّ ۚ وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ يَقِينًۢا
And [for] their saying, "Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, the messenger of Allāh." And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain.
وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُونَهُۥ وَقَدْ أَفْضَىٰ بَعْضُكُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ وَأَخَذْنَ مِنكُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًا
And how could you take it while you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant?
وَإِذَا حَضَرَ ٱلْقِسْمَةَ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْقُرْبَىٰ وَٱلْيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلْمَسَـٰكِينُ فَٱرْزُقُوهُم مِّنْهُ وَقُولُوا۟ لَهُمْ قَوْلًا مَّعْرُوفًا
And when [other] relatives and orphans and the needy are present at the [time of] division, then provide for them [something] out of it [i.e., the estate] and speak to them words of appropriate kindness.
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًا مَّوْقُوتًا
And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allāh standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.